FIR filed against PTI leaders over incident in Madinah

FAISALABAD: An FIR was lodged on Sunday against former prime minister and Pakistan Tehrik-e-insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and other top brass of the party in Faisalabad.

According to the report, the charges are brought against the leadership for involvement in the incident at Masjid-e-nabwi (PBUH), where Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal ministers were ridiculed by some Pakistani pilgrims.

The charges have been registered under Sections 295, 295-A, 296, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code, also referred to as ‘blasphemy laws’. The sections relate to harming a place of worship with intent to insult a religion, deliberate and malicious intent to outrage religious sentiment, disturbing religious assembly and abetment.

A total of 14 known and 100-150 unidentified people, including Imran Khan, Fawad Chaudhry, Shahbaz Gill, Sahibzada Jahangir and other PTI members have been named in it.

Thecomplainantmuhammadnaeem,aresident of Faisalabad, claimed that the incident at the holy site, videos of which went viral, was a “planned out scheme and conspiracy.” He added that the videos shared on social media and speeches made by the PTI leaders prior to the coalition delegation’s visit were proof of the alleged crime.

According to a senior police officer, various cases have been registered against the PTI leaders in different cities of Punjab.

Ater the FIR was filed, former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed’s nephew Sheikh Rashud Shafiq was taken into custody on arrival at the new Islamabad airport from Saudi Arabia.

Some protesters, allegedly belonging to PTI, violated the sanctity of the Masjid-e-nabawi (PBUH) in Madinah on Thursday by loudly catcalling Shahbaz Sharif and members of his delegation.

Shafiq flew to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia through a private airline. Confirming the arrest, Ahmed said that his nephew had just touched down in Islamabad ater performing Umrah and he was taken into custody.

“None of us were in Saudi Arabia, but cases were still registered against us. Residences are being raided ater the registration of the cases,” Ahmed said, condemning the arrest...”